How A Small Town Won an Unlikely Victory Against Big Oil
A port commission vote against a proposed $1.2 billion oil refinery in a Washington town proves that the people still have a voice.
Social Justice
The Role of an Activist Attorney in the #BlackLivesMatter Movement
For civil rights lawyers, litigating isn't enough. They need to engage with the struggle of black Americans firsthand.
What Legalizing Street Vending Could Do for L.A.’s Local Economy
Los Angeles is one of few U.S. cities where street trade isn’t widely permitted. But for immigrants and low-income people, it’s often the only way to earn a living.
Police Shooting Data Reveal New Tactics and Training Will Only Go So Far
To create meaningful change, we must look beyond high-profile cases and ask why certain police-civilian encounters occur at all.
The Radical Work of Healing: Fania and Angela Davis on a New Kind of Civil Rights Activism
"Self-care and healing and attention to the body and the spiritual dimension—all of this is now a part of radical social justice struggles."
One Southern Leader Bridges Civil Rights’ Past and Black Lives Matter’s Future
Irving Allen on creating an inclusive movement. “You’re not organizing unless you’re training up the next generation.”
Ten Counterproductive Behaviors of Well-Intentioned People
Common mistakes made in social justice conversations and how to correct them.
The Program Helping Youth Unify the Most Segregated City in America
In Chicago, low-income kids don’t usually have the opportunity to travel outside their own neighborhoods. My Block, My Hood, My City is changing that.
The Feminist Rappers Who Are Updating Sweden’s Old-Fashioned Definition of Rape
In Sweden, Femtastic gives survivors of sexual violence a voice in a male-dominated music industry.
Life in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Along the Kenya-Somalia border, people have been displaced for decades. A new book profiles nine Somali refugees to explain the political forces that keep them—and hundreds of thousands more—from getting out.
When You Can’t Afford the Cost of Clearing Your Record
People who’ve done their time and paid their fines still face barriers to employment. Memphis-based Just City helps them start fresh.
Flint Whistleblowers Who Exposed Their Poisoned Water: We’re Just Getting Started
Long before the state declared an emergency in Flint, Michigan, a pastor, a mother, and an attorney teamed up to reveal the state’s lies about their drinking water.
The Oil Industry Won in Alberta. Now First Nations Look to Heal Their Land
The Alberta tar sands are home to the third-largest proven reserves of crude oil in the world. Here, First Nations engage in a complex dance of resistance to and cooperation with industry in order to survive.
White Privilege II Showed Me What an Unruly Mess We’re In
A Seattle music writer quoted in Macklemore’s controversial new song appreciates how it speaks to young white people—but wishes it had gone further.
As Rising Seas Force Exile, Islanders Hold Fast to What Matters Most
Pacific Islanders are among the first victims of climate change-induced sea level rise. As natives quickly run out of land and struggle to maintain crops, leaders are searching for ways to protect their people and thousands of years of cultural heritage.
One Clan’s Unique Weapon Against Big Oil
Because the Unist’ot’en clan has given up no land rights after decades of courtroom battles, they maintain a strong foothold on land crucial to future oil expansion plans.
In North Dakota’s Booming Oil Patch, One Tribe Beat Back Fracking
The Turtle Mountain Band was among the first tribes to ban the drilling process. Here’s the difference it made.
New York’s “Carwasheros” Push for Safer, Fairer Workplaces
Car washes are the “wild, wild West” of workplace regulation. The Car Wash Accountability Act will improve that—if it is ever implemented.
Big Oil and Gas Want Them Out, But One Small Clan Is Standing Up to Pipeline Expansion
A First Nations clan is bringing pipeline projects to a grinding halt—simply by occupying their traditional lands.
The New Face of Hunger: How Statistics Underestimate the Food Problem
Today, 800 million of us are considered “hungry,” but we produce enough calories to feed us all. Rather than a lack of food, we’re dealing with a lack of democracy.
Our Continued March to the Mountaintop
In his speech delivered in Seattle, YES! reporter Marcus Harrison Green acknowledges that realizing King’s dream will require more than kind words and promises.
The Brilliance of Using Pillowcases to #GiveRefugeesRest
A human rights campaign to protest Islamophobic rhetoric sent message-scrawled pillowcases to 31 governors who expressed support for refugee bans. And more are on the way.
How This Black Student Used Documents and DNA to Find Her Slave Ancestors
Like many African Americans, Lakisha David wanted to trace the roots of her family, who for years were documented only as property. Here’s how she did it.
Waging Life in a War Zone
From Gaza’s colorful neighborhood to its underground theater, resistance is an art.
In Photos: The Seed-Saving Farmers Who Pass Down Land to Their Daughters
In northeastern India’s mountainous state of Meghalaya, youngest daughters inherit the land—and the ancient food heritage of their mothers.
Inspiration in Your Inbox
Sign up to receive email updates from YES!
Our Vision to Create the Best Stories Imaginable
In 2025, we will temporarily pause the printing of YES! Magazine.
LEARN MOREHelp Fund Powerful Stories to Light the Way Forward
Donate to YES! today.